Alaskan Icy Bay IPA | Alaskan Brewing Co.

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Notes / Commercial Description:
Alaskan IPA is honey gold in color with a fruity, citrus aroma. An enticing blend of hops and our dry hopping process, in which hops are added directly to tanks during fermentation, give this brew a very intense, complex aromatic character with a refreshing hop finish.

More User Reviews:

This is my first beer review. Before finishing, I want to describe a bit my own beer experience. I'm from the USA but started drinking beer back in 2003 in The Netherlands, so my first brews were the masterpieces of Belgium, Holland, and Germany. What strikes me about the best beers of the old-world is their balance: you seldom find a beer that is "too much of any one thing," at least in terms of how the beer relates to itself.

The American beer scene is something I'm also on top of, despite many years in Europe now. The innovation that surrounds American beer is often compromised by "too much" of something, a byproduct of the extreme creativity being brough to brewing beer in the USA these days. At the same time, there are so many new innovations in beer that it's absolutely startling.

With that in mind, this beer together with their Spruce Tips IPA (which is the better of the two), are VERY good. Read the other reviews of these two Alaskan IPAs, and you find this strange element of surprise. "It's not that hoppy," "it's not that bitter," or "it's surprisingly drinkable." Get rid of the surprise and this expectation that every beer produced in America needs to shock you somehow, and you realize that you've got two very, very good beers on your hands.

They are balanced. They are not that bitter. This one in particular has these nice orange notes, floral notes, but it finishes clear, like the appearance. The other reviews are pretty accurate in this regard. But as for the sheer score... I don't know what you can ask for more out of beer. It is balanced, it's super drinkable... overall, this is a very outstanding beer.

I question the values of so many beer drinkers out there, and at the same time salute whoever is in charge at Alaskan for focusing on crafting balanced beer that doesn't fall prey to this or that fad going on today.

Ripe apricot with lemon peel trim. Multitudinous bubbles race up to do their part in the creation of a densely creamy cap the color of lightly yellowed ivory. From the melting ice cream look of the head to the generous amount of lace, this is one good looking India pale ale.

I wish the aroma was more forthcoming, but I love what I smell. My nose tells me that there's no (or almost no) caramel malt present. The white grapefruit and lemon hops tell me that one or more of the 4-Cs is in use (Cascade at least). I like the way these guys have decided to construct their IPA.

Alaskan Smoked Porter and Alaskan Stout are superb examples of their respective styles. Alaskan ESB is good as well. After that, I'm not thrilled with what this brewery produces, although it's all drinkable in a pleasant sort of way. I'm thrilled to see that Alaskan IPA comes in at the higher end of the spectrum.

This is a hop-focused beer that isn't anywhere close to being a tongue destroyer. By using pale malt almost exclusively (I'm guessing), the brewers allow the bright, zesty, citrus fruit character of the Pacific NW hops to shine. Malt support is rock steady, with an untoasted biscuity sweetness just below the surface. Simple... straightforward... delicious.

The mouthfeel is exactly where it should be for an American IPA that isn't a hop and booze monster. It's medium for the style, is both firm and lightly creamy, and is well-carbonated without being buzzy. In other words, it's a perfect match for the flavor profile.

I love the fluorescent green that Alaskan Brewing Co. has chosen for the labels and bottle caps. I'm sure it makes the beer stand out on the shelves. Although it may not be as sexy as some of the hop bombs that are being brewed these days, Alaskan IPA is a more than solid effort that I enjoyed thoroughly. I'm glad to see that these guys have filled the 'hoppy beer' hole in their lineup with such a quality offering.

Alaskan IPA has a light golden appearance and is very, very clear. Copious small carbonation bubbles rush upward through the beer. The head is nearly pure-white and is about a finger tall after a strong pour into a pint glass. The lacing is arch-like and sticky.

The aroma is not very potent and smells rather light and grainy. There is a subtly citrus and mint hop presence which is balanced by slight caramel and biscuit malt aroma. Pleasant, but not very strong.

I am slightly more impressed by the taste than by the smell. There is a decent balance of caramel and pale malts and not-too-bitter citrus hops. Light notes of grapefruit, orange rind, and mint come through near the end, and the finish is light and bitter from the bittering hops.

The mouthfeel is definitely on the lighter side for the style, but has a nice effervescence to it from the carbonation. The hops provide a nice little nip on the sides of my palate and the finish has just a slightly bitter, clean hop presence.

I think this has more in common with APAs that I've had than AIPAs. Everything about the beer was just a little lighter and subdued than I usually like from an IPA. Solid beer, but perhaps just a little too subtle for the style.

This brand had a short "keg only" showing last summer, but beer enthusiasts cried out for more. Alaskan appeased the thirsty crowd with their IPA, now bottled year-round.

Drops into the glass with a short stack of foam that subsides to a very sticky yet thin lace. A tad hazed within the dim golden-colored brew. Evergreen, hemp and lemon zest hop aromas attack the nose (in a loving way).

No lack of smoothness here--the moderate body holds onto a light carbonation that lends a dash of crispness to the mouthfeel. Big healthy herbal, hemp seed, blond tobacco and ruby red grapefruit hop flavors jump up first. Hop bitterness is not shy, with a resin burn that does not seem to want to go away. Malt sweetness and bread flavors are only underlying flavors. Finishes bitter but fresh, with a long lingering hop flavor in the dryness.

Drinkability scores high, which is great, but remember this beer is 6.2 percent ABV. Spot-on for the style and a hophead's dream. A half-dozen Northwest oysters per bottle is a must--Barron Point, Penn Cove and Willapa Bay would all be especially delicious with this.

Pours clear, gold in color with 1/2 inch head. Taste is herbal and soapy hops with some grapefruit rnd. Bitter, light bodied with moderate carbonation. Beer does taste better as it warms. Icy Bay is a really easy drinking IPAs. There are several other beers from Alaska Brewing that I prefer, but this one is worth a shot.

The beer pours a yellow color with a white head. The aroma is biscuit malt with some nice orange citrus and tropical fruit notes. The flavor has a decent amount of bitterness with some orange citrus and a touch of pine. There is also a hint of biscuit and toffee malt, but the hops are far more present than the malt. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Not a great IPA, but a nice drinker that won't disappoint.